Thursday, July 13, 2017

BAD NEWS: Trump Nominates China Trade Hater as Deputy US Trade Envoy

Dennis Shea is bad news for those who appreciate low prices and free trade.

President Donald Trump has nominated Dennis Shea, vice-chairman of a congressional commission that has been highly critical of China, as deputy US Trade Representative, the White House said yesterday.

Notes the South China Morning Post, the move adds another China trade hawk to Trump’s trade policy team, joining US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Peter Navarro, the White House director of trade and industrial policy.

The nomination, possibly made due to pressure from Republican establishment, means more restrictions on Chinese exports or investments may be on the way, the Chinese paper adds.

Huang Jing, an expert on Sino-US relations at the National University of Singapore, said the nomination of Shea, who has a long career in government, was most likely the result of a compromise between Trump and the political establishment. “This is not good news for China,” Huang said. “Based on what he has done, Shea is not the kind of person who will be friendly to China.”